Folding tent frame



Sept. 28 1926. 1,601,664

F. L. ACKERMAN FOLDING TENT FRAME Filed March 27, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1p 28 1926- F. L. ACKERMAN 1,601,664

FOLDING TENT FRAME Filed March 27, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 gwuentozPatented Sept. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK L. ACKERMAN, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

FOLDING TENT FRAIYIE.

Application filed March 27 1926. Serial No. 98,015.

My invention relates to folding tent frames, and particularly to a frameadapted foruse with a tent of the beachor umbrella type.

An object of my invention is to provide a collapsible supporting framewhich eliminates the objectionable center poles or other supporting orbracing members in the middle of the tent, thus afiording space of thefull size of the tent entirely unobstructed by a center post or othersupport.

A'further objectis to so construct the supporting frame that all units,while collapsible to permit compact folding of the various parts, arepermanently connected so that no member can be lost.

Another object is to provide a folding frame which can be erected andtaken down with facility, and which is rigid when set up for use in atent, thus eliminating the necessity of guying from either the top orhips of the tent to prevent the tent from falling down or collapsingaccidentally.

A still further object lies in so constructing the tent supportingportions that posi tive adjustment of the parts can be made totightenthe roof of the tent regardless of how much the canvas may shrink orstretch. WVith the above and other objects in iew, which will beapparent to those skilled in the art, my invention includes certainnovel features of construction and combination of parts which will beset forth in connection with the drawings.

In the drawings 1 Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the tent-with theframe shown indotted lines. Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view, withthe tent fabric eliminated, to better show the construction of theframe. Fig. 3 is a top plan-view of the frame illustrating thestretching members in use. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing themounting of the tent peak supporting pole. Fig. 5 is a detail viewillustrating the hinge oint in One of the frame uprights.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating the connection ofone of theframe uprights with the cross bar. I Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5showing the connection of the remaining upright with the cross bar.-

The canvas or other fabric l is made up to be of the usual type and formnecessary for a tent of the character shown, and popularly known as theumbrella, beach, or pal- 7 positions. lVith metto type of tent. Thiscovering can be provided with any type and number of door and windowopenings, flaps or the like, and may be made up with or without a sodcloth. At its peak the fabric has a pin opening 2, the pin openings areprovided at 3 at each of the corners, these openings being preferablyfinished with grommets or eyes. The usual loops 4 will be preferablyprovided at the lower edge of the cover 1 to receive pegs 5 or otherfasteners by which the tent is anchored.

The main supporting frame consists of supporting uprights 6 and 7connected hingedly at their upper ends to the cross bar 8, and peak pole9 foldably mounted in the middle of the cross bar. This supporting frameis made of such form and size that the uprights 6 and 7 will extendparallel with the-fabric 1, on the inner side, along two sides, and thecross bar 8 will extend between the sides at a height correspondingsubstantially to the hip between the roof and side walls of the tentfabric. The peak pole 9 is made of suflicient length to properly elevateor raise the peak of the roof, and a pin 10 is provided on this peakpole 9 to fit through the opening 2.

Roof spreader members 11 and 12 are pivotally connected with a slidemember 13 fitted on the cross bar 8 on one side of the peak pole 9, andthese spreader members are provided with pins 14 and 15 which fitthrough the openings 3 at adjacent corners of the tent fabric. A similarslide member 16 is fitted on the cross bar on the opposite side of thepeak pole 9, and spreader members 17 and 18 pivotally connected withthis slide member 16 have pins 19 and 20 at their ends to fit throughthe openings 3 at the remaining corners of the roof .hip of the fabric.The cross bar 8 has a plurality of openings 21 formed therethrough onopposite sides of the peak pole 9, and pins 22 and 23 are fittedthroughthese openings to hold the slides 13 and 16 in adjusted thisconstruction and mounting of the hip or roof spreader frame, the slides13 and 16 can be adjusted for the purpose of stretching and tighteningthe roof of the tent, a positive adjustment and tightening beingaccomplished regardless of how much the canvas or fabric may shrink orstretch.

As tents of this type are commonly used by campers, automobile tourists,and others who must transport the tent and frame from place to place, itis essential that provision be made to col'apse the frame to be foldedinto the smallest bundle or space possible.

With this in mind I hingedly connect the uprights 6 and 7, and the peakpole 9 with the cross bar 8, and provide for the folding of the spreadermembers when the frame is collapsed. As shown in Figure at, the peakpole 9 has iearing plates 2 f at its lower end pivotally connected at onthe cross bar 9. These plates 24 are provided with extensions 26 whichfit the cross bar on opposite sides when the peak pole is swung up,alined openings being provided through the extensions to receive pin 27by which the pole is locked in the upright position. The folded positionof the peak hole is indicated by dotted lines.

.In Figure 5 I have shown the folding hinge of one of the uprightmembers. The hinge plates 28 on the lower section of the upright memberare provided with ei-ztensions 29 to receive the upper section of theupright member, which is hingedly connected with the lower member at 30.The ring 31 is slidably fitted on the upper member to be moved down toembrace the extensions 29 and hold the upper and lower sections inalinement when the frame is erected. The folded position of the uppermember is indicated by dotted lines.

In Figures 6 and 7 the hinged connection between the uprights 6 and 7and the cross bar 8 is illustrated in detail. The hinge members 32 areconnected on opposite sides at the upper end of upright 7 and areextended to offset the pivot or hinge pin 33 by which the upright ishingedly' connected with cross bar 8 so that this upright can be foldedor collapsed against the underside of the cross bar, and the hingemembers 84 secured on opposite sides at the upper end of upright 6 havetheir hinge or pivot pin 35 so located that the upright can be folded orcollapsed to the position indicated in the dotted lines in whichposition it will rest upon the collapsed upright 7. With thisconstruction and mounting, the main supporting frame structure can bereadily folded or collapsed, and at the same time this frame structurewill fold and set up to make a strong and rigid supporting frame.

While the slides 13 and 16 can be moved inwardly upon the cross bar 9when the sup porting frame iscollapsed it is perhaps desirabl e that thespreader members be more compactly folded, and with this in mind I makeeach of the spreader members 11, 12, 17 and 18 in two parts and providea hinge joint at 36 between these parts. This hinge joint is preferablymade of the buggy brace type so that the spreader memberswill be secureand rigid when in use.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I that changes and variationscan be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1 A tent frame comprising a pair of LIP-- rights, a cross bar carried bysaid uprights, and adjustable spreader-s carried by said cross bar toproject substantially radially from the middle portion of the cross barto the corners of the tent roof to spread the roof of the tent.

2. A tent frame comprising a pair of supports, a cross bar carried at anelevation by said uprights, a peak pole mounted on said cross bar, andadjustable spreaders [carried by the cross bar to project substantiallyradially from the peak pole to the corners of the tent roof to spreadthe roof.

3. A supporting frame for use with a wall tent comprising a pairofuprights, a cross bar carried at an elevation by said uprights, slidesadjustably mounted on the cross bar, and spreaders carried by saidslides to engage with the tent adjacent the hip and spread the roof.

4. A tent frame comprising an upright frame, a peak pole carried by theframe, slides adjustably mounted on the frame, and spreader armsextending from said slides to project substantially radially from thepeak pole to the corners of the tent roof.

5. A tent frame for use with a wall'tent comprising a pair of inclineduprights, a cross bar carried at the upper ends ofsaid uprights, a peakpole carried by the middle portion of the cross bar, a slide adjustablymounted on said cross bar 011 each side of=the pole, and spreader armspivotally connected with the slides'on each side of the crossbar.

6. A folding tent frame comprising a pair of uprights, a cross barhin-gedly connected with the upper ends of said uprights, aVpe-ak polehingedly mounted on the cross bar, slides adjustably mounted on thecross bar on each side of the peak pole, and spreader membershin'gedlymounted on the slides.

7. A folding tent frame comprising a pair of uprights each consisting oftwo members hingedly connected together to collapse one against theother and to fold out'to ext-end in alignment, means to secure the twomembers of each upright'i'n the extendedpositionaa cross bar hingedlyconnected at its ends with of the peak pole, foldable spreader armspivthe upper ends of said uprights, a peak pole otally connected Withsaid slides on opposite hingedly mounted on the middle portion of sidesof the cross bar, and means to hold said 10 the cross bar to fold downtherea'gainst and slides in adjusted positions.

5 to fold up to an upright position, means to In testimony whereof Ihereunto aflix my secure the peak pole in the upright position,signature. slides mounted on the cross bar on each side FREDERICK L.ACKERMAN.

